Moyles chastised for making on-air threats

Chris Moyles has been shown a yellow card by BBC chiefs after he threatened to "tear the head off" a rival DJ.

The Radio 1 DJ, who also hosts a live TV show on Channel 5, made the comments during a feud with Capital FM's Neil "Dr" Fox, who was a judge on ITV's Popstars.

The row was sparked when Fox was quoted in the Sun as saying he would like to get in the ring with Moyles for an edition of the forthcoming BBC series, Celebrity Boxing.

"I'll knock his fat face off," said Fox.

Moyles, in the following day's show on Radio 1, branded Fox an "ego on legs", adding: "Bring it on Dr Fox. Here's your quotes, Sun newspaper. I'm going to rip that guy a brand new hole. I'm gonna tear his head off and poo down his neck."

A listener complained that the DJ had made violent threats and used inappropriate language.

The BBC's programme complaints unit agreed. It said: "The remarks had been prompted by personal comments from the rival DJ. However, what began as a humorous response became too forceful and prolonged."

The findings will be discussed with Moyles and his programme team at the show's next editorial review.

It is not the first time the afternoon DJ has been in hot water with the regulators.

Earlier this year he was rapped by the broadcasting standards commission after offering to take the virginity of teenage singer Charlotte Church.

Moyles, speaking on the Cardiff soprano's 16th birthday, said he wanted to "lead her through the forest of sexuality now she had reached 16".

BBC bosses said the comment was an example of the DJ's cheeky humour but the BSC said the "explicit sexual content and humour had exceeded acceptable boundaries for the time of transmission".

The programme complaints unit also upheld criticism of two CBBC presenters for making fun of a young viewer taking part in a telephone competition.

"The presenters made the caller the butt of their jokes in a way that was entirely inappropriate," said the report.

The presenters later apologised on air and in person to the caller, who was given a tour of the CBBC studios.